Why Franck Haise is ideal to replace Brendan Rodgers at Leicester

Even the most positive Foxes fans cannot hide the reality any longer, Leicester City are a club in crisis and are in danger of relegation. We already summed up the issues at the club in a recent article but perhaps the biggest problem for many fans is the persistent faith shown to manager Brendan Rodgers. Often the main argument for not sacking Rodgers is ‘who are we going to get in as a replacement’. Fortunately, with the help of football guru Euroexpert, FoL has an answer.

Who is Franck Haise?

Franck Haise is a 51-year-old French manager, currently at RC Lens. He enjoyed a modest playing career in the lower levels of French football, before taking up coaching after his retirement in 2004. Haise only took up the Lens job in 2020 just before the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a halt. Therefore, he was only able to manage two games until French football was completely suspended. Both of these were wins, ensuring that Lens remained in second place, the same as when he took over.

Unlike the Premier League, the LFP decided to end the French league, meaning that the league table after 28 games would be the final standings. This ruling meant that Lens, who were only one point above third place, were promoted to Ligue 1. Nevertheless, Haise’s exploits in the top division proved that his side were not there to make up the numbers. In his two full seasons, he has finished seventh consecutively, playing an attractive brand of football on a much smaller budget than many teams.

This season Lens have surprised even more people interested in French football. They currently sit third in the table after 27 games. In this period they have garnered 54 points and sit three points clear of Monaco in 4th. Considering RC Lens have the 10th highest budget, this is impressive indeed. Some of the sides they are outperforming include bigger sides such as OL and Kasper Schmeichel’s Nice.

Why would he be a good fit for Leicester City?

Franck Haise would help to restore Leicester City’s swashbuckling identity as top-six challengers. Under Brendan Rodgers, LCFC have become extremely stale and error-prone at the back. Although there have been mini ‘revivals’, it is clear that Rodgers’ LCFC are progressively getting worse after each cycle. Therefore, Haise would provide what LCFC have desperately wanted for so long.

Haise, as explained by EuroExpert, revolutionised a tactically dreary French league upon his arrival with Lens. His team’s tactical fluidity and adaptability are hallmarks of Lens’ success. The fact that he is comfortable setting his team up in either a back three or back four, would make Leicester City less predictable, increasingly an issue under Rodgers. More importantly, Haise plays a fast and attacking brand of football, based on quick vertical transitions and playing to the strengths of his best players.

For instance, Lens generally favour a 3-4-2-1 system based on wing-backs and the energy of striker Lois Openda. Nevertheless, Haise has also used a 4-2-3-1 at times and is willing to tweak his style to best utilise his personnel even if the principals remain the same. When comparing this to Brendan Rodgers’ stubborn insistence on a slow possession-based game, it seems like a no-brainer. When looking at how he might utilise Leicester’s squad, one wonders if he is the man to get more out of players such as Boubakary Soumare, Patson Daka and Timothy Castagne.

Perhaps if he were to join, he might even be able to persuade some of his key players to come with him, though this would be dictated by LCFC’s finances.

Potential reservations

The main issue with Haise would be his lack of English. From what we have seen, it seems unlikely Haise has anything more than a basic grasp of the language at best. When seeing how Claude Puel’s language issues caused problems, there may be teething problems. This could, however, be mitigated with the use of an interpreter and the fact there are several french speakers in the squad.

Whilst unlikely to want to leave high-flying Lens mid-season, added to the fact LCFC look unlikely to sack Rodgers mid-season, he may be tempted by a move to the Premier League come summer 2023. Therefore, Leicester City must remain in the top flight, to have a chance to replace Rodgers with a quality manager.

Although Haise has a contract until 2027, the nature of Premier League money means that a buy-out shouldn’t be ludicrously expensive. Ironically, it would likely cost more to sack Rodgers. This recommendation, therefore, gets a resounding yes from us! Let us hope that the LCFC board see things the same way.